Durness Attractions
Durness (pop. 1,400) consists of a series of scattered settlements. At the west end of the village look out for the picturesque remains of Balnakeil Church (ca. 1619), a golf course and Balnakeil beach where the grave of a Viking warrior was recently discovered. Craftsmen and women can be seen at work in the nearby craft village.
Clo Mor Cliffs
The manned lighthouse built by Robert Stevenson built in 1827 stands a little to the east of Cape Wrath on the spectacular Clo Mor Cliffs (920ft/280m).
Cape Wrath
In summer a passenger ferry from near Cape Wrath Hotel operates across the Kyle of Durness and then a minibus service covers the final few miles on to Scotland's magnificent northwestern tip ("hvarf" = "turning point"). On a clear day a fine view from the storm-battered rocks extends across to Lewis and Harris and in the east as far as the Orkneys.
Smoo Cave
Smoo Cave, which lies to the east of Durness, is a vast limestone cavern with three chambers. The first one (220ft/67m long and 120ft/37m high) is reminiscent of the nave of a Gothic church. Continuing erosion has opened up a number of holes in the roof and daylight has led to the growth of some unusual vegetation on the walls. The other two chambers are accessible only by boat.
Dun Dornaigil Broch
An Iron Age broch is situated about 10mi/16km to the south of Durness. The remaining walls reach a height of 22ft/6.7m.
